Housing for universal joints



C. GEROLD Nov. 15,- 1932.

HOUSING FOR UNIVERSAL JOINTS Filed June 4, 1930 ghm'ntoc Patented Nov. 15, 1932 1 UNITED STATES I ca'rLrN snow, or LOS ANGEIFIES, oALIFoRNI'A-TY nousme FOR UNIVERSAL fxom'rs Application filed June 4, 1930. Serial No. 459,138. r

This invention relates to universal joints, and more particularly to the housings which are employed forthe purpose of retaining the lubricant and for supplying the same in operative relation to the working parts of such joints. I

It is the general purpose and object of the inventionto provide, for joints of the character referred to, a housing comprising a ,plu-

rality of spherical interleaving housing sections, each section being in the shapeof a segment of a sphere and the sections being so constructed and arranged as to permit of their relativeoscillatory' movement, due to:

. the rotation of the misalined shaft sections to which they are respectively connected, While preventing the escape of lubricant from the housing. A further object of the invention is to enable this result to be accomplished Without the use of special packings and springs, such as have been customarily employed heretofore in connection with housings of the general type to which my invention'relates. A'still further object of the in I out parts of the chassis assembly. 7

Further and more limited objects of the invention will appear hereinafter and will be realized in and through the construction and arrangement of parts shown in the drawing hereof, wherein Fig. 1 representsa sectional" elevation of azuniversal joint equipped with a housing constructed in accordance with my.

invention and showing the ends of the shaft sections connected bysaid joint; Fig. 2 an end elevation of the housing, with certain parts broken away; and Fig; 3 a detail in section through a portion of a housing construction showing a modification of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

Describing by reference characters the various parts illustrated herein, 1 denotes one of the shaft sections to be united, the-same being provided with a hub 2, having a flange 3 provided with yoke arms 4 each having, in the embodiment shown herein, a slotted bearing 'ends of two opposed shaft sections;

bore 5 each receiving a bushing 6 for a trunnion 7 of across pi-n "i ofaconnecting-cross member. g 8 denotes the hub of another; shaft section, the same being provided withyokes 9, similar to the yokes 4, eachyoke having abearing bore 10 which is preferablysimilar to-the slotted bearin" bore 5 and also being pro vided each Wit a bushing 11 similar to. the bushing 6"for the 'receptioniofa trunnion 12 of the other cross pin of said cross member. The construction of universal oint thus far described is merely illustrative of one type of suchjoint for connecting adjacent 1 o5 For the purpose of supplying lubricant to the working parts of the joint as well as for. retaining lubricant, Ifprovide: a sectional housing, the same comprising a cylindrical housing member'jl3 of less diameterthan-the flange 3,.and itself having a radially out- .wa'rdly ext-ending flange l i adapted'tobe secured to the -flan ge '3 by bolts 15 extending through-the said flanges and through a companion'flange 16. A packing ring or gasket 18 is inserted between the flanges 3 and 14.

The cylindrical housing section 13 is provided with an internally threaded filling opening 19, through which lubricant may be; inserted into the housing, said opening being 30 provided with a'plug 20. i 1 '2 At its end opposite the fiange l, the sec-' tion 13 is provided with a shorter outwardly extending radial flange 21'. 22 denotes an inner spherical housing section "provided at its enlarged end with an outwardly eXtend-* ing radial flange 23 preferably ofthe same external diameter as the flange'21 andabut ting against the latter flange. The outer spherical housing section 24 is provided at its enlargedend with an outwardly extending radial flange 25, which isalsopreferably of the same external diameter as the'external diameters of the flanges 21. and 23.

Cooperating with the housing sections22 and 24 is an intermediate housing section 26 having a cylindrical neck 27 closely fitting the hub'8 and secured thereto, the section 26 having a spherical portion which is also concentric with the sections 22 and 24,.the thickness of the metal comprising the section 26 being such that the main body thereof flts fairly snugly within the space provided be tween the last mentioned sections. The section 26 is of such extent as to provide, between its enlarged end and the flange 25, a chamber- 28 which receives. lubrica-nt'from the housing by centrifugal action throughnone or more openings 29. The flanges 21,28 and 25 may be united in any convenient manner, as by automatically welding-thesame together, as indicated at 30,- .or,- by riveting-,-

the same together, as shown at 31 in Fig. 3.

The flange 25 is sufliciently shorten-than the-z flange 23 to provide, when the outer ends of the said flanges arein register and I united, an interme(liaise-s13)ace "of suflicient 1 Width for the reception of the section 26 and-fo-r th'e provision-of th'e chamber-28:

5 The-spherical portionoieaclr housingwsection.- 22, 24zand-26 7is concentricwithuthe intersection-r; of "the axes oii the cross pins 7 thereby-rte accommodate. oscillatory movement betWeen1 :the section 26 on the one hand andtlre sections:22 and-24 1on thezotherahancl,

duei=toz=lack :ofr'alignmentjrof 'theeshaft'i sec tions awhichfiare sconnectedtbyrthe universal joints.

' Imoperati-one as :thees'haft sections are-. ro=

tated, the :housingrotates therewith and :the:

lubricantcis-thrown'outwardly'bycentrifugal action: through; the opening or. openings '29; into; the: chamber -2.8. Eurthermore;-. owing torthe centrifugal zactionp there will be 1100115 5 stantrtendencyrrfor zthe lubricantzto seek-the.

part off'said .chamber'whi'clrisnf .the greatest diameter, which": will .,antomatically: prevent any i leakage of ilubric antitbetween the inter-c engaginggportions 1 of :the spherical housing s'ections; .while. supplyinggsufiicient lubricant,- by capillary action;betweenz-suchiinterengag1 ingaportio nsof saidzsectio'ns:w

It will. 'loeievident .that,cbe'cause of the con-e struction:.-andcarrangement F OfiPZLI'tSfiShOVwDJ- hereim anr, extremelyw'simple and-ieftective lubricant-containinghousingzis' provided for universal joints and-Jone ='Whlh: wrll not only insure thelubricationzot the parts of the oint:

within '.the' hbusing; but will prevent the es 7 capeaofi 'lubricant :fromz ithe housing i without the i nsect-springs and packingsasuch'aas {have been: employed: hBIBtQEfO Ey. while securing: proper-lubrication ofsthe interenga gingz'housingrsections. Furthermnre dneito thezman i ner :of; constructing :the housing; it may :be

applicdito existingztypes of funivers al j oints and-employed whereversuch joints have been employed heretofore, without interference of the housingiwithfivariousparts otthe chassis assemblysthis' beingcd'ue to -the fajctthat the housing==properzis;of zlessrdiameten than the diameterzot .the flanges: 3 iand Tet of 'theij oint:

IHtlYingithllS .deseribedimy inventiomzwhat Irclaimis:

1:; The combination; with; a apair; of shaft sections and means for uniting the same comprising a universal joint, of a housing enclosing the universal joint, the said housing comprising a housing member secured at one end to one of said shaft sections and having a radially outwardly extending flange at its opposite 7 end, inner and v outer. concentric spherical housing: sections; each Lof 'the last mentioned sections having a radially outwardly extending flange at its enlargedend,

"the outer portions" of said housing-section flanges beingmnited with the flange of the housing member, the flange on the inner housingsectiorebeinginterposed between the other two flanges, there being a space provided beprising'asrflange carried iby one 0f 1 said sec carried by;the opposite-shaft sectio1r,-. ELllCIOSS member-1 connecting one pair. of 'yokes z with the. other-yet housing- -'enclosin'githe: cross. memberiandx'connections, the said housing comprising a: cylindrical. member having" a radially outwardly rextenfding flange at one" enduthereofi' secured =1 to vth'e firstemention'ed' flange and havingat its opposite end "az radial 1y outwardly extending flan G-OfilBSS diame tertth'anz the first mentioned anges,';inner and: outer concentric spherical thousingitsections; each of the lastzmentioned- 1 secti ons having: a' radial. flangeiat its 'en'larged iend; means forsecuring the flange of? lihfif'OlllZGI spherical: section tothe secondflange onxthe cylindrical member with"the'flange of :theiinner spheri-z cal; section: interp'osed'betweenz'. the other flangesi thereby tmpxiovides a ispaceeb'etweem such spherical sections; andia third i splferieal.

sectiorr h avi-ng its enlarged 3 end offsmaller diameter than? the m aximumtdi ameters of :the other sections and interposed betweennsuch? sections; the lastmentionedsection'havinga reduced endtsecured'tothe other ot'said sh'aft sections, there being-a chamber providedrbe; tweenfthe innerand'fouter. spherical section's beyond the enlargedend'ofxthe intermediate section, with one or more-'openingsin tl1e=innermost spherical section :for'the supplyrof lubricantto said chamber 'by'c'entrifugal action'iromitheinterior of the housing;

3. The-combination, with? a pair ofshaft sections and means for uniting-the same comprising:a;flangeecarried by one ofztsaid' seo tions, a yoke carried by said flange, a yoke carried by the opposite shaft section and a cross flange of less diameter than its other flange,

inner and outer spherical housing section. members each having their enlarged ends secured to the second mentioned flange on the first section with a space between such spherical sections, a third spherical section ext-ending between the reduced ends of the first mentioned spherical sections and having its enlarged end of smaller diameter than the larger diameters of the first two spherical sections, thereby providing a chamber between such enlarged ends of the said spherical sections, the reduced end of the intermediate secti-onbeing secured to the other of the said shaft sections, and means for supplying lubricant by centrifugal action from the interior of said housing to said chamber.

4. The combination, with a pair of shaft sections and means for uniting the same comprising a flange carried by one of said sections, a yoke carried by said flange, a yoke carried by the opposite shaft section and a cross member connecting one pair of yokes with the other, of a housing enclosing the cross member and connections, the said housing comprising a section connected at one end to said flange, an inner and an outer spherical housing section secured at their enlarged ends to the opposite end of the first section with a space between their spherical portions, an intermediate spherical section secured at one end to the other shaft section and extending into the space between the other two spherical sections and havin its enlarged end of smaller diameter than the diameters of the enlarged ends of the first mentioned sections thereby providing a chamber between the enlarged ends of the inner and outer spherical sections beyond the enlarged end of the intermediate section, there being one or more openings for the supply of lubricant by centrifugal action through the inner spherical section to the aforesaid chamber, the said housing being of less diameter than said flange from its point of connection therewith to its point of connection with the opposite shaft section.

5. The combination, with a pair of shaft sections and means for uniting the same comprising a flange carried by one of said sections, a yoke carried by Said flange, a yoke carried by the opposite shaft section and a cross member connecting one pair of yolres with the other, of a housing enclosing the cross member and connections, the said housing comprising a section connected at one end to said flange and having at its opposite'end a radially outwardly extending-flange, an

innerand an outer spherical housing section each having a radially outwardly r-extending flange, the flang'e'xof the, inner section being interposed between the flanges of the outer section and of the first mentioned section and.

the said flanges being united together to provide a space between the inner and outer.

spherical sections, an intermediate spherical section secured atone end to the other shaft SGCtlOIl and extending upwardly into the space between the other two spherical secs tions and having its enlarged end of smaller v diameter than the diameters of the enlarged ends of the first mentioned sectionsthereby to provide a chamber between the enlarged ends of the inner and outer spherical sections and beyond the enlarged end of the intermediate section, there being one or more openings for the supply of lubricant by centrifugal action through the inner spherical section to the aforesaid chamber, the flanges uniting the housing sections being of less diameter than the first mentioned flange,

6. The combination, with a pair of shaft sections and means for uniting the same com prising a universal joint, of a housing enclosing the universal joint, the said housing comprising a housing member secured at one end to one of said shaft sections, inner and outer concentric spherical housing sections secured at their enlarged ends to the adjacent end of the said housing member and in spaced relation to each other, a thirdspherical section also concentric with the first mentioned spherical sections and having its enlarged end of smaller diameter than the maximum diameters of the other sections and interposed between such sections, with the provision of a chamber beyond the enlarged end of such section having a reduced end secured to the other of said shaft sections, and means for supplying lubricant by centrifugal action from the said housing to the said chamber, the diameter of the housing at the point including the connections between the first and second spherical sections and the housing member being no greater than the greatest diameter of the housing member.

7. The combination With a pair of shaft sections, of an annular flange secured to one of said sections, means for uniting said sections comprising a universal j oint,a housing enclosing said universal joint and comprising a housing member secured to said flange, inner and outer concentric spherical housing sections secured at their enlarged ends to the adjacent end of the housing member with mpthe section, -th-e":t11 ird spheriealsection"havingza 3' reduced end-secured tOthe Other-"Of said shaft sections, and means for supplying a lubri Cant by centrifugal actionfromthehousing1 to the said chambei the maximum outsidei diameter of' the spherical sections beingvno greater than' the: maximum diameter 0)? -said other sections and interposed floetxzveerreu'ch': sections :withi the PIOViSiOn 'Of-a chambervibeyond the" enlarged end of such third spherical flange.

In testimony whereof,- I hereuntoafiixmy signatures CATLIN GEROLD; 

